Oct 2026: The state has closed the beach to Mobile Sport Fishing Vehicle access because of erosion after a late-September nor'easter. Check the NJ DEP page for the current status before you go.
North Brigantine Natural Area At A Glance...
- About 2.5 miles of ocean beach with no development behind it, which is rare anywhere on the Jersey coast.
- In fall, as many as 250 state-endangered red knots feed on the flats at the north end during migration.
- Endangered piping plovers arrive in early spring to claim nesting territory right on the beach.
- Pods of bottlenose dolphin cruise close to shore in summer, and a two-story viewing platform at the end of North 14th Street gives you a sheltered place to watch for them.
- Todays Sunrise: , Sunset:
- New Jersey Greater Atlantic City Region Atlantic County
About North Brigantine Natural Area
North Brigantine Natural Area is the undeveloped north end of Brigantine Island, about 2.5 miles of ocean beach between the city of Brigantine and Brigantine Inlet. It is a rarity on the New Jersey coast: no houses and no road down the middle. Primary and mature dunes, maritime forest and tidal marsh sit just behind the beach, and the state has named it a Natural Heritage Priority Site.
The natural area is run by the New Jersey State Park Service as part of Bass River State Forest, and the state's Endangered and Nongame Species Program decides where the beach closes for nesting birds. It is not part of the federal Edwin B. Forsythe refuge, which covers the marshes and islands just north and west.
Most visitors reach it on foot. From the end of North 14th Street you walk north along the sand, past roughly half a mile of city beach, until signs mark the start of the natural area. The walk out to the northern tip and back is about six miles, and nothing out there sells food or water, so bring what you need.
This is one of the best bird stops on the south Jersey shore. Piping plovers and northern harriers breed here, American oystercatchers feed along the surf line, and in fall flocks of migrating shorebirds, including as many as 250 red knots, rest on the sandy flats at the north tip. It is also a popular surf fishing beach, with striped bass, bluefish, summer flounder, kingfish and croaker running through the year.
-
Activities:
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Walking
Amenities:- Beach
- Parking - Street Parking Available
- Parking Lot(s)
Rules/Regulations:- Swimming Not Permitted
Contact / Location
A Brief History
The Brigantine Life-Saving Station stood on this stretch of beach. It was built in the late 1800s by the U.S. Life-Saving Service, the forerunner of the Coast Guard, closed in 1946 and was abandoned in 1948. Winter storms have uncovered pilings and part of the foundation in the surf about a mile into the natural area.
Best Time of Year to Visit
Early spring is the time to see piping plovers arrive, starting around mid-March. Spring and fall bring the shorebird migrations, with songbirds in the dune shrubs and monarch butterflies on the seaside goldenrod in fall. Summer is best for surf fishing and dolphin watching, and diamondback terrapins nest on the bay-side beaches. Winter brings diving ducks, scoters and loons offshore. Dogs are not allowed from April 1 to September 15.
Tips and Tricks
Bring water and snacks, since nothing is sold in the natural area. Greenhead flies can be bad in summer, so pack bug spray. The walk is long, so plan for it, and stay out of any area posted for nesting birds.
Admission & Guidelines
There is no entrance fee.
Dogs are not permitted from April 1 through September 15, while piping plovers nest. Swimming is not allowed.
Driving on the beach takes a Mobile Sport Fishing Vehicle Permit from the state, an annual pass of $50 for New Jersey residents or $75 for non-residents, and no more than 75 vehicles are allowed on the beach at one time. It is a fishing permit, not a general four-wheel-drive recreation permit. Anglers 16 and older must also register with the NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program. Fishing is limited to the ocean beach.
Parking
Park on the street. Parking is free along Brigantine Avenue and on most side streets near North 14th Street. There is also a parking area at the viewing platform at the end of North 14th Street. There are no restrooms or other facilities in the natural area, though a shower is available nearby in Brigantine.
Directions
From the intersection of Route 9 and Route 30 in Absecon, go east on Route 30/Absecon Boulevard. After 5.7 miles, follow the signs for Route 87/Brigantine Boulevard toward Brigantine. After crossing the bridge into Brigantine, continue 1.5 miles to the traffic circle and go straight to merge onto West Brigantine Avenue. After 2 miles, turn left on North 14th Street. At the end of the street, turn right into the parking area at the viewing platform, then walk north along the beach.
You may also like...
Nearby Places
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center/Sea Life Museum is in Brigantine. For more birding, the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge protects the marshes and islands just north and west, and Absecon Wildlife Management Area is also in Brigantine.
Here are 10 places near North Brigantine Natural Area
- North Brigantine Natural Area (~0 miles)
- Marine Mammal Stranding Center/Sea Life Museum (~3 miles)
- Absecon Wildlife Management Area (~5 miles)
- Oscar E. McClinton Waterfront Park (~5 miles)
- Absecon Lighthouse (~6 miles)
- Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (~6 miles)
- Steel Pier (~6 miles)
- Leeds' Point Natural Area (~6 miles)
- Galloway East Tract (~7 miles)
- Whirlpool Island County Park (~10 miles)
- Stockton University (~11 miles)
- Atlantic Blueberry RV Park (~11 miles)
Brigantine, New Jersey 08203